The Illearth War
Chapter 24: TWENTY-FOUR: Descent to Earthroot
by R, Donaldson, StephenThe chapter “Descent to Earthroot” opens with Covenant grappling with physical and emotional exhaustion. Despite the cold, he sweats profusely, feeling drained after Morin’s submission. The towering peaks of Melenkurion Skyweir intimidate him, their brilliance making his eyes water. When he looks at High Lord Elena, her radiant hope and smile contrast sharply with his inner turmoil, leaving him with a sense of betrayal. Covenant wishes he could apologize to the Bloodguard for altering their service, but their unwavering commitment to their Vow renders his remorse futile.
Covenant retreats to the edge of Rivenrock, torn between wanting Elena’s company and fearing it. The autumn breeze carries a foreboding chill, signaling the Land’s shift toward winter. He observes Garroting Deep’s lack of seasonal change, its anger consuming all vitality. When Elena approaches, he deflects her concern with bitter remarks about pioneers destroying nature, masking his deeper unease. She, preoccupied by duty, asks if he will stay behind, but he insists on accompanying her, though his sarcasm betrays his reluctance.
Elena prepares to depart, her renewed hope evident in her resolute demeanor. Covenant, however, feels unprepared and anxious, unsure how to reclaim his integrity. The Bloodguard and Amok are ready, their efficiency highlighting his own disarray. As Elena bids farewell to the Ranyhyn, praising their loyalty and honoring Myrha’s sacrifice, Covenant watches with a mix of admiration and dread. The Ranyhyn’s departure leaves him feeling even more exposed to the challenges ahead.
The chapter underscores Covenant’s internal conflict and the weight of his unspoken bargain. Elena’s determination contrasts with his instability, while the Land’s changing seasons mirror his shifting emotions. The Ranyhyn’s symbolic farewell underscores themes of sacrifice and duty, leaving Covenant on unsteady ground as the group prepares for their perilous journey. His struggle to reconcile his actions with his conscience remains unresolved, casting a shadow over their mission.
FAQs
1. How does Covenant physically and emotionally react to Morin’s submission, and what does this reveal about his character?
Answer:
Covenant experiences both physical discomfort and emotional depletion after Morin’s submission. Despite the chill breeze, he sweats profusely, with moisture itching in his beard and running down his spine. Emotionally, he feels a sense of betrayal toward Elena and guilt over altering the Bloodguard’s service. This reaction reveals Covenant’s deep internal conflict—his struggle with the consequences of his actions and his inability to reconcile his role in the Land with his personal ethics. His wish to apologize, yet recognition that no gesture would suffice, highlights his self-awareness and moral complexity.2. Analyze the significance of the changing season and Garroting Deep’s lack of autumn colors. How does this reflect broader themes in the chapter?
Answer:
The transition from autumn to winter in the Land symbolizes a shift from abundance to barrenness, mirroring Covenant’s internal desolation. Garroting Deep’s lack of seasonal change—its direct shift from summer to winter—reflects its consuming anger and defiance, much like Covenant’s own unresolved turmoil. The Forest’s inability to display splendor parallels Covenant’s emotional numbness and his struggle to find hope. This imagery reinforces the chapter’s themes of loss, resilience, and the tension between nature’s cycles and human (or supernatural) intervention.3. How does Elena’s demeanor change after regaining hope, and what does Covenant’s reaction to her suggest about their relationship?
Answer:
Elena’s hope revitalizes her: she smiles vividly, her stride becomes resolute, and she exudes renewed purpose. However, Covenant perceives her knuckles tense on the Staff and her head thrust forward hungrily, indicating lingering strain. His inability to smile genuinely in return and his sarcastic remark about “risking his neck” reveal his emotional distance and guilt. Their interaction underscores a disconnect—Elena’s focus on duty contrasts with Covenant’s preoccupation with his moral compromises, suggesting their relationship is strained by unspoken tensions and differing priorities.4. What symbolic meaning might the Ranyhyn’s departure carry, particularly in Elena’s farewell speech?
Answer:
The Ranyhyn’s departure symbolizes both freedom and uncertainty. Elena’s speech honors their service and sacrifices (like Myrha’s death), framing them as eternal allies of the Land. Their galloping away echoes the transient nature of hope and strength in the characters’ journey. The fact that they take Covenant’s mustang underscores his loss of control and reliance on others. Elena’s conditional farewell—”if we do not call”—hints at mortality and the precariousness of their quest, reinforcing themes of sacrifice and the unknown future.5. Evaluate Covenant’s comment about “pioneers” and its relevance to his perspective on the Land’s struggles.
Answer:
Covenant’s sarcastic remark about “pioneers” who “slaughter nature” critiques human exploitation of the environment, contrasting the Land’s reverence for nature with his world’s destructive tendencies. His comment reflects his alienation—he views the Land’s conflicts through the lens of his Earthly experiences, unable to fully embrace its values. This moment also highlights his guilt over his passivity; by comparing Garroting Deep’s plight to Earth’s deforestation, he acknowledges his complicity in both worlds. The remark underscores his internal struggle to reconcile his cynicism with the Land’s urgency.
Quotes
1. “The air no longer gleamed with abundance and fruition, with ripeness either glad or grim. Now the breeze tasted like the leading edge of winter—a sere augury, promising long nights and barrenness and cold.”
This quote captures the pivotal shift in atmosphere and mood as Covenant perceives the changing seasons. It reflects both the literal transition to winter and the metaphorical foreshadowing of hardship ahead, mirroring Covenant’s internal turmoil.
2. “The old Forest’s angry clench of consciousness consumed all its strength and will, left it with neither the ability nor the desire to spend itself in mere displays of splendor.”
This observation about Garroting Deep reveals the Forest’s intense, singular focus on survival—a powerful metaphor for Covenant’s own strained state of mind. The quote highlights the theme of sacrifice and the cost of enduring through struggle.
3. “You are the Tail of the Sky, Mane of the World.”
Elena’s poetic farewell to the Ranyhyn underscores the deep reverence for these mythical creatures in the Land’s culture. This quote is significant as it showcases both Elena’s leadership and the profound bond between the people of the Land and the natural world they cherish.
4. “He made out her face. She was vivid with smiles. A new thrill of life lit her countenance with recovered hope. She did not speak, but her lips formed the one word, Beloved.”
This moment captures the emotional complexity between Covenant and Elena, juxtaposing her renewed hope with his sense of betrayal. The word “Beloved” carries heavy significance, representing both affection and the weight of Covenant’s unresolved guilt.
5. “He sensed how little this answer satisfied her. She cared about him, wanted to understand him. But the rebirth of hope had restored the urgency of her duty.”
This passage reveals the tension between personal connection and larger responsibilities. It exemplifies the chapter’s exploration of duty versus emotional truth, as Elena must prioritize the Land’s needs over deeper communication with Covenant.